Monument Detail

Dore Abbey, Site of Conventual Buildings

Cistercian Abbey founded 1147 by Robert, son of Harold of Ewyas. First buildings disappeared, present church (SMR 892) begun c1180. Abbey suppressed 1535 and site soon fell into ruins. In late C19 Roland Paul excavated and made measured drawings of all foundations of abbey buildings, monastic quarters on N side of church. (1)
Abbey of monks from Morimond founded by Robert Fitz Harold of Ewyas, grandson of William I c1147. Suppressed 1536 and lands granted to Scudamores. Sacristy: on N side of N transept, roofless. Chapter house entered by vestibule on N side of sacristy. N of the N aisle is kitchen garden, none of walls appear to be pre- suppression. N of garden, about 84' W of present W face of church and running northwards from kitchen garden wall is substantial wall of some antiquity, nearly 100' long, S end 2'9" thick, N end 4'4". Probably formed part of W wall of frater. Plan. (2)
Monastic chapterhouse almost entirely disappeared. N of N transept was E range and first a sacristy whose tunnel vault can still be seen indicated in transept wall. In W wall was book cupboard open to cloister walk. To N is the vestibule to Chapter House. S respond of entrance and SE springer of vault survive. Chapter house was 12 sided; one drum of central column preserved in S transept. Column had 12 shafts. Above E range lay the dormitory. Slight traces of wall of N range. Between cloister and W range ran a lane. About 180' E of dormitory stood another building, probably the infirmary. (5)
Barn constructed within scheduled area without SMC. (6)
Site for sale 1988. (11)
List of granges etc. (14)
Cistercian monastery founded AD 1147. Nucleus of church is thought to have been constructed AD 1170-1185. After dissolution in 1537 the land was given to the Scudamore family. The buildings fell into disrepair. In AD 1633 the building was extensively renovated by John, Viscount Scudamore and the church was re-dedicated in 1634 as a parish church. Tree ring analysis found that re-used timbers were used in the restoration, some were timbers felled AD1205-1238, others were timbers dating to a few decades before the 1633 restoration. (15)
There are nine charters in the Dyfrig section of the Book of Llandaff. These are in and around Herefordshire. St Dyfrig was born in Madley and died 612. Lann Cerniu is possibly the site of Abbey Dore and is a straightforward grant made by Pepiau to St Dyfrig. (17)
Reference to writings of John Aubrey in Monumenta Britannica with comments on the architecture of Dore Abbey. (20) Article on the Cistercians of Dore and the origins of the polygonal chapter house. (21)
Building recording provided evidence that the sacristy and north transept are contemporary. There is also evidence for the modification of the opening in the sacristy's east wall. The lower courses of the standing remains of the chapter house also appear to be contemporary with the sacristy. Clearance re-exposed a doorway in the sacristy's north wall and a plinth in the chapter house. (22)
Article on Chaplains, Chantries and Chapels of NW Herefordshire c.1400. (A list is compiled in Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club, Vol XLVI, 1989, Part II). (23)
Article on the renaissance churches of Herefordshire. (25)
Notes relating to papers concerning the restoration of Abbey Dore Church 1633-4. (26)
A programme of repairs to the remains of the Sacristy and Chapter House was carried out in 2002. The consolidation work, which was monitored by Ron Shoesmith, exposed several new features which relate to the design of the Chapter House, the Sacristy and the rooms above. (27)
Scheduled Monument Consent granted by English Heritage for the repair of part of the wall along the north side of the former cloister area and modification of the capping, 11/04/2012. (28)
Geophysical survey and archaeological excavation were carried out in 2009 in conjunction with repairs to the nave and cloister walls. Trench 1, within the cloister garth, showed evidence of a collapsed building with some stones that had been heated to a high temperature, supporting the theory that the kitchens may have been located here. Excavation in Trench 4, located parallel to the nave wall, exposed two sandstone walls which were not contemporary with each other. One abutted the north wall of the nave, and the other was contemporary with the construction of the nave. Trench 3, located within the eastern cloister walk, exposed a grave containing a single inhumation, consisting of the entire skeleton of a mature adult, probably between 25 and 35 years of age. (30)

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